OCEANSIDE — After reversing his decision to support flying the LGBTQ pride flag during Pride Month, Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa addressed public criticism and disappointment over his change of heart during a recent City Council meeting.
Earlier in May, the council voted 3-2 in favor of flying the pride flag beneath the city flag throughout June, a proposal introduced by Mayor Esther Sanchez and Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce. But at the May 21 meeting, Figueroa reversed his vote, effectively blocking the measure.
The decision drew criticism from local LGBTQ advocates, including Max Disposti, executive director of the Oceanside-based North County LGBTQ Resource Center.
“Councilmember Figueroa’s vote is not merely a policy shift; it is a betrayal of the very coalition that supported his rise to leadership,” Disposti said. “To cite political pressure or religious belief as justification for withdrawing support from a symbol of inclusion sends a dangerous message: that hate, when loud enough, will prevail. The reversal undermines the decades-long work of coalition-building in North County and ignores the most vulnerable in our community.”
Disposti called the decision “a profound setback” and “a painful blow to our local LGBTQ community.”
Figueroa, who did not cite his own religious beliefs as a reason for changing his vote, said during the May 21 meeting that while he is a man of faith, he was disturbed by the way others used religion to justify hateful comments.
“When I first supported the resolution to raise the flag, it really came from a sincere place — to promote inclusion,” Figueroa told The Coast News.
Figueroa said he spent the two weeks between the initial vote and May 21 “pausing and really listening” to constituents who opposed flying certain flags on government property.
Ultimately, Figueroa changed his vote not due to political or religious pressure, but based on feedback from residents who expressed concern about maintaining neutrality at City Hall.
“I started to feel more strongly that government spaces in Oceanside should stay neutral,” he said. “I believe City Hall should be a place where everyone feels equally represented, regardless of their background or beliefs.”
Figueroa also addressed his May 21 comment comparing the divisiveness of the flag debate to his past work with rival gang members. Figueroa said he was referring specifically to the tone and hostility of some public comments during the council meetings.
“Hearing some of the comments from a few of the more extreme opponents of the flag was especially difficult – it was a shameful and disappointing experience to witness,” Figueroa said.
Some of those comments falsely accused LGBTQ individuals and their supporters of pedophilia.
“Messages and statements like those do not receive any weight or consideration from me,” Figueroa said. “I don’t condone that type of rhetoric or behavior.”
The first-term council member added that the experience at the council meetings was “different from the kind of heartbreak I’ve felt over the years working in neighborhoods impacted by gang violence — witnessing shootings, arrests, trials and devastating loss.”
Figueroa acknowledged the emotional impact of his decision.
“I know that symbols matter deeply, and I don’t take lightly how this vote may have caused hurt to many members of the community,” Figueroa said. “This was not an easy decision.”
Figueroa said he remains committed to fostering inclusion in Oceanside.
“I remain committed to working toward an Oceanside where all people feel safe, heard and treated with dignity,” Figueroa said.
Figueroa represents District 3, which includes the Tri-City neighborhood where he grew up. His previous roles include executive director of Operation HOPE-North County, program manager at Vista Community Clinic, and leadership positions with the North County Gang Commission, the Oceanside Police and Fire Commission, and the MiraCosta Foundation Board.
